Your Daily Reprieve 09.04.18

Your Daily Reprieve for Tuesday September 4, 2018 From Waynesville, NC

Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything, except what you're going to do now and do it. ~William Durant "Clearly understand, there isn't any situation that isn't made worse by worry. Worry never solves anything. Worry never prevents anything. Worry never heals anything. Worry serves only one purpose... it makes matters worse. --Bob Procter "The first thing that captured me at my very first meeting was the way AA members talked with one another. There was a genuineness, something real there, that I wanted ... I saw they were sober and that they were honest with each other." ~Grapevine: New York, New York, February 2001 There is only one cause of unhappiness; the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them. ~Anthony de Mello

Big Book Quote "We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, Page 46~

Daily Share! AA Speaker of the Day BERNARD C Atlanta GA @Cartersville GA 1993 https://bit.ly/2LeaFTy Wee Willie’s Sobriety First Media AA CD’s Literature and tapes https://www.mediafire.com/sobrietyfirst

Celebrate Your Anniversary Here SHOW NEWCOMERS HOW IT WORKS!! Send your sober date to txm1@comcast.net SOBER DATE YOUR NAME YOUR LOCATION YEARS SOBER 6/10 (mo/day) Bob S Akron, OH 83 It will look like this : 6/10 Bob S. (Akron, OH).....83 September 2018 Anniversaries 9/1 George M. (Scottsdale, AZ).....34 9/1 Doug V. (Waynesville, NC).....20 9/1 Julia C. (Dorset, UK).....16 9/1 Patrick C. (Middlesex, NJ).....32 9/1 Billy K. (Southold, NY).....18 9/2 Robert A. (Liverpool, England).....20 9/2 Peter W. (Nesconset, NY).....4 9/2 Leslie Z. (Valley Village, CA).....37 9/3 Edward H. (Andover, MA).....35 9/3 Tiffany C. ().....2 9/3 Margot H. (Martinsville, NJ).....8 9/3 Gail K. (Portsmouth, NH).....33 9/4 LeeAnn M. (New York, NY).....6 9/4 Cathy H. (Los Angeles, CA).....34 9/4 David F. (New York, NY).....5 9/5 James O’K. (Portland, ME).....5 9/5 Maria C. (Lake Grove, NY).....36 9/6 Bernie L. (Floral Park, NY).....8 9/7 Angus M. (Cape Town, South Africa).....16 9/7 George D. (Port Salerno, FL).....34 9/9 Julie K. (Weaverville, NC).....17 9/10 Kevin D. (Nantucket, MA0.....29 9/10 Brian O. (Cushendall, Ireland).....29 9/10 Sue B. (Haiku, HI).....7 9/11 Deck H. (Oldwick, NJ).....32 9/11 Eric R. (Lexington, KY).....1 9/11 Andrew McK. (NY, NY).....7 9/12 Joe C. (Palm Coast, FL).....27 9/13 Lisa N. (New York, NY).....l7 9/14 Mac D. (Nantucket, MA).....19 9/14 Linda L. (Stuart, FL).....4 9/14 Rodger D. (Winimac, IN).....14 9/15 Stanley R. (Grand Rapids, MN).....39 9/15 Patrick C. (Basking Ridge, NJ).....1 9/15 Sue B. (Montpelier, VT).....5 9/18 George P. (London, England).....33 9/18 Jim H. (Houston, TX).....8 9/18 Rob K. (Boston, MA).....2 9/19 John A. (Gainesville, GA).....7 9/19 John P. (Rochester, IN).....1 9/19 Craig C. (Sylva, NC).....15 9/19 Eddie K. (Brooklyn, NY).....37 9/19 Elaina C. (NYC).....7 9/20 Donald P. (Rockland, ME).....23 9/20 David O. (Manhattan, NY).....5 9/20 Lisa M. (Plainview, NY).....10 9/20 Linda K. (Toronto, Ontario).....6 9/20 Kenny H. (Plains, Airdrie, Scotland).....9 9/20 Darlene R. (Cape Coral, FL).....7 9/21 Jeff E. (Tampa Bay, FL).....1 9/21 Paul W. (Byfield, MA).....25 9/21 John P. (Basking Ridge, NJ).....3 9/21 Beth G. (Los Angeles, CA).....39 9/21 Lisa O. (Roundhill, VA).....4 9/22 Peter H. (Ridgewood, NJ/Nantucket).....19 9/22 Tyler L. (Exeter, NH).....35 9/23 Rick B. (Stowe, VT).....26 9/24 Tim B. (Raleigh, NC).....13 9/24 Katie S. (New Vernon, NJ).....18 9/25 Jim L. (Palm Springs, CA).....24 9/25 Mary D. (New Rochelle, NY).....1 9/26 Drenda M. (Waxahachie, TX).....12 9/26 Rik V. (Aruba).....6 9/26 Lance B. (Vero Beach, FL).....6 9/27 Lucky Lou (Lake Grove, NY).....35 9/27 Michael Z. (Houston, TX).....11 9/28 June T. (Palm Desert, CA/Nantucket, MA).....12 9/28 Scott B. (Epping, NH).....22 9/28 Paul W. (Springfield, NJ).....29 9/29 Kieran O. (Portland, ME).....1 9/29 Joan F. (Westhampton, NY/Juno Beach, FL).....8 9/29 Sinead G. (West Midlands, UK).....8 9/30 Sheree H. (Bellevue, WA).....4 9/30 Dominick N. (NY).....36 1166     Total Years of Sobriety

12&12 Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable." Why all this insistence that every A.A. must hit bottom first? The answer is that few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless they have hit bottom. For practicing A.A.'s remaining eleven Steps means the adoption of attitudes and actions that almost no alcoholic who is still drinking can dream of taking. Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution for harm done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power, let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice time and energy in trying to carry A.A.'s message to the next sufferer? No, the average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme, doesn't care for this prospect--unless he has to do these things in order to stay alive himself. p. 24

Twenty-Four Hours A.A. Thought For The Day "We must be careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as an institution. Experience shows that such an attitude is no help to anyone. We are not fanatics or intolerant of people who can drink normally. Every prospect is relieved when he finds we are not witch burners. Temperate drinking is O.K., but we alcoholics can't get away with it. And no alcoholic likes to be told about alcohol by anyone who hates it. We shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility." Do I have a tolerance for those who can drink normally? Meditation For The Day Do not become encumbered by petty annoyances. Never respond to emotional upsets by emotional upset. Try to keep calm in all circumstances. Try not to fight back. Call on the grace of God when you feel like retaliating. Look to God for the inner strength to drop these resentments that drag you down. If you are burdened by annoyances, you will lose your inward peace and the spirit of God will be shut out. Try to keep peaceful within. Prayer For The Day I pray that I may do the things that make for peace. I pray that I may have a mission of conciliation.

Daily Thought ^*^*^*^*^ (\    ~~    /) (     \(AA)/     ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Progress "Many of us exclaimed, 'What an order! I can't go through with it.' Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection." 1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 60 Thought to Consider . . . Progress always involves risk. You can't steal second base with your foot on first. *~*AACRONYMS*~* I S M Incredibly Short Memory

Daily Reflection RECONSTRUCTION Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead . . . ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83 The reconstruction of my life is the prime goal in my recovery as I avoid taking that first drink, one day at a time. The task is most successfully accomplished by working the Steps of our Fellowship. The spiritual life is not a theory; it works, but I have to live it. Step Two started me on my journey to develop a spiritual life; Step Nine allows me to move into the final phase of the initial Steps which taught me how to live a spiritual life. Without the guidance and strength of a Higher Power, it would be impossible to proceed through the various stages of reconstruction. I realize that God works for me and through me. Proof comes to me when I realize that God did for me what I could not do for myself, by removing that gnawing compulsion to drink. I must continue daily to seek God's guidance. He grants me a daily reprieve and will provide the power I need for reconstruction.

Pot Luck "Dear Stranger, You don’t know me but I hear you are going through a tough time, and I would like to help you. I want to be open and honest with you, and let you know that happiness isn’t something just afforded to a special few. It can be yours, if you take the time to let it grow. It’s OK to be stressed, scared and sad, I certainly have been throughout my 66 years. I’ve confronted my biggest fears time and time again. I’ve cheated death on many adventures, seen loved ones pass away, failed in business, minced my words in front of tough audiences, and had my heart broken. I know I’m fortunate to live an extraordinary life, and that most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it, have brought me happiness. But they haven’t; in fact it’s the reverse. I am successful, wealthy and connected because I am happy. So many people get caught up in doing what they think will make them happy but, in my opinion, this is where they fail. Happiness is not about doing, it’s about being. In order to be happy, you need to think consciously about it. Don’t forget the to-do list, but remember to write a to-be list too. Kids are often asked: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ The world expects grandiose aspirations: ‘I want to be a writer, a doctor, the prime minister.’ They’re told: go to school, go to college, get a job, get married, and then you’ll be happy. But that’s all about doing, not being – and while doing will bring you moments of joy, it won’t necessarily reward you with lasting happiness. Stop and breathe. Be healthy. Be around your friends and family. Be there for someone, and let someone be there for you. Be bold. Just be for a minute. If you allow yourself to be in the moment, and appreciate the moment, happiness will follow. I speak from experience. We’ve built a business empire, joined conversations about the future of our planet, attended many memorable parties and met many unforgettable people. And while these things have brought me great joy, it’s the moments that I stopped just to be, rather than do, that have given me true happiness. Why? Because allowing yourself just to be, puts things into perspective. Try it. Be still. Be present. For me, it’s watching the flamingos fly across Necker Island at dusk. It’s holding my new grandchild's tiny hands. It’s looking up at the stars and dreaming of seeing them up close one day. It’s listening to my family’s dinner-time debates. It’s the smile on a stranger’s face, the smell of rain, the ripple of a wave, the wind across the sand. It’s the first snow fall of winter, and the last storm of summer. It’s sunrise and sunset. There’s a reason we’re called human beings and not human doings. As human beings we have the ability to think, move and communicate in a heightened way. We can cooperate, understand, reconcile and love, that’s what sets us apart from most other species. Don’t waste your human talents by stressing about nominal things, or that which you cannot change. If you take the time simply to be and appreciate the fruits of life, your stresses will begin to dissolve, and you will be happier. But don’t just seek happiness when you’re down. Happiness shouldn’t be a goal, it should be a habit. Take the focus off doing, and start being every day. Be loving, be grateful, be helpful, and be a spectator to your own thoughts. Allow yourself to be in the moment, and appreciate the moment. Take the focus off everything you think you need to do, and start being – I promise you, happiness will follow. Happy regards, Richard Branson" This piece was contributed by Richard to help raise money for MIND, a Mental Health Organisation.

Speaker Recordings Wee Willie’s Sobriety First Media AA CD’s Literature and tapes https://www.mediafire.com/sobrietyfirst ***** The Lights are On http://xa-speakers.org/ Recovery Speakers http://recoveryspeakers.com/

ARCHIVES *NEW* http://www.bigbookfordummies.com/ An On-Line Study Resource Daily Meditations Group Home http://groups.google.com/group/Your_Daily_Reprieve?hl=en Daily Meditations Archive http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/7AMmeeting/ Blog http://todaysreprieve.blogspot.com/

Your Daily Reprieve is now on Facebook It is a PRIVATE GROUP https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourdailyreprieve/ To be added, email: txm1@comcast.net Please share your wisdom, anecdotes and travels with other members of Your Daily Reprieve. Twitter https://twitter.com/YourDailyReprie

AA Membership Survey (2014) http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-48_membershipsurvey.pdf 2015 http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/2015-Membership-Survey/Survey-Results-Page-2

Meditation Resources http://www.peterrussell.com/TV/3Min.php ***** Loving Kindness Meditations With Music http://www.excelatlife.com/mp3/direct_download.php?file=lovingkindnessmusic.mp3 Voice only http://www.excelatlife.com/mp3/direct_download.php?file=lovingkindness.mp3 ***** Free Guided Meditations http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

Resources Great Minds Quotes https://twitter.com/GreatestQuotes BIG BOOK SEARCH ENGINE: http://www.whytehou se.com/big_ book_search/ Twenty Four Hours a Day Since 1954, Twenty-Four Hours a Day has become a stable force in the recovery of many alcoholics throughout the world. With over nine million copies in print (the original text has been revised), this "little black book" offers daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for living a clean and sober life. A spiritual resource with practical applications to fit our daily lives. Copyright 1975 Hazeleden Foundation Tammy’s recovery links http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/ NEW! Twisted Thinking Making Sense Out of Nonsense: Change Happens by Changing Your Perception by Georgia Hughes amazon.com/author/georgiahughes AA Photo Archives http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/aa_photos.htm Heard at A Meeting https://twitter.com/heardinameeting Breast Cancer Site Take a minute and click to provide free mammograms https://thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/bcs/home MEN FIGHTING CANCER TOGETHER America’s largest volunteer men’s cancer support group and advocacy national nonprofit organization. http://malecare.org/ Big Book Quotes http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BigBookQuotes/ The Universe https://www.facebook.com/scherie.dee Prayables http://prayables.org/ As We See It (AWSI) http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AsWeSeeIt/ Keep It Simple Hazelden Meditations Daily Thought http://groups.google.com/group/TransitionsDaily Speaker Recordings http://storiesofrecovery.org/Workshops.htm Wisdom of the Room http://www.theWisdomoftheRooms.com

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